Guardiola on brink of deal for Gündogan

Gundogan, right, is expected to sign a five-year contract with CityMartin Meissner/AP

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations to make Ilkay Gündogan their first signing of the Pep Guardiola era. City have yet to agree a fee with Borussia Dortmund but the firm expectation on both sides is that the midfielder will move to Manchester at the end of the season.

Guardiola and City identified Gündogan as a prime target after concluding that Juventus’s £90 million valuation of Paul Pogba was prohibitive. Gündogan’s expected arrival, for a fee of about £30 million, will represent the first step in Guardiola’s attempt to reshape the City team and particularly the midfield, with Yaya Touré among those whose positions are vulnerable.

Guardiola, the Bayern Munich coach, will not start work in Manchester until June, but he has had discussions with…

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